My old lap top finally died and for a warranty replacement I was given one that only has USB ports to make serial/parrallel connections with. There are serial port adapters made (around $45 a piece) but I've been told that they don't always work for all applications. Does any one have any experience with these adapters or some other means of using a USB port for Ham radio applications? I usually use my computer to control my TS-440 and also for the cluster with a Kantronics KPC 3+. I'm currently using Log windows for software. Thanks for any or all help!

Sean,I am using a USB to Serial convertor to operate the CAT between my FT-920 and a program called MixW V2.0. I was forced into trying the USB because I had IRQ conflicts between the comport for my TNC and CAT when both were operated from the MixW program. (I have run out of serial port IRQ options.) I orderred a low cost model from www.iogear.com that sells for 39 bux and it works fine on my Win98SE system. It only has a DB9 connector, but they are easy to adapt to DB25 if needed. If I add more seial devices in the future, I will go this direction again...

I have an IBM laptop that has no serial port but has the USB port. I am using an adapter for my serial keyboard to USB port I got from Radio Shack and it works great. I am told that Fry Electronics sells 4 port USB hubs for around $12 and I saw an ad for Circuit City Sunday for a USB 4 port hub for $19. That should work for you. I need to retain my serial stuff because I also have a HP 5500CTS laptop that has the serial port, so I can't just throw out the serial stuff since I use it for controlling my IC-706 as well as PSK31.73,FrankKL7IPV

Sean, I have tried several of the USB to RS-232 adapters available. The one I found worked the best is the Belkin F5U003. I can even assign an IRQ with supplied software.Also, there are PCMCIA serial cards available that work very well also.I obtained both items from ebay auctions.

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